AHRQ posts state snapshots on quality
The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ) recently published online its 2008 State Snapshots, which includes the strengths and weaknesses of each state’s quality information. Collected for the National Healthcare Quality Report, the data will be used to analyze healthcare quality and disparities by state.
Each summary of state quality of care information is divided by type of care (preventive, acute, and chronic), as well as setting (hospital, ambulatory, nursing home, and home health). In addition, the 2008 report focuses on disparities related to race/ethnicity and socioeconomic class. The report this year also focuses on asthmas cases.
Users can view the state snapshots on the AHRQ Web site. Click on the map to see a colorful, easy-to-read evaluation of your state’s healthcare quality. I did this for Massachusetts and found that our overall healthcare is light green (strong). When I scrolled down, I discovered that home healthcare measures here in the Bay State are inching toward the red (poor), but our diabetes care is dark green (very strong). Click on the “strongest and weakest measures” link to find out what your state needs to work on specifically.
About the Author: Elizabeth (Liz) Jones is an associate editor at HCPro. She writes and contributes to several monthly newsletters including Medical Staff Briefing, Hospitalist Leadership Advisor, and Credentialing and Peer Review Legal Insider. Liz graduated from Salem (MA) State College in 2003 with a B.A. in professional writing. Before joining HCPro, Liz wrote for a national monthly business publication where she gained experience in executive-level business and healthcare issues.